Discussion: The Immigration
Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 granted amnesty to many illegal
immigrants, resulting in the large increase after 1987.. For similar data
with a longer time trend see the
Public Agenda website.

Key Question: What's the Illegal
immigration rate? The INS estimates an annual growth in the illegal
immigrant population at about 275,000 in 1996, this compares to 915,900
legal immigrants admitted in 1999.